Non-disclosure of other information – witness protection

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Law on Protection of Witnesses under Threat and Vulnerable Witnesses 2003 (2005) EN

CHAPTER II
WITNESS PROTECTION MEASURES

Article 12
Limitation of the right of an accused and his defense attorney to inspect files and documentation

(1) In exceptional circumstances, if revealing some or all of the personal details of a witness or other details would contribute to identifying a witness, and would seriously endanger the witness under threat, the preliminary proceedings judge may, upon the motion of the Prosecutor, decide that some or all of the personal details of a witness, may continue to be kept confidential after the indictment is issued.

(2) The prosecutor shall immediately notify the accused and his defense attorney of the submission of the motion referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

(3) If possible, the preliminary proceedings judge shall hear the accused and his defense attorney prior to issuing the decision referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. The decision of the preliminary proceedings judge must be issued within 72 hours following the day the motion is received.

(4) No appeal shall be permissible against the decision referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

(5) If the preliminary proceedings judge was unable to hear the accused and his defense attorney prior to the decision referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the Court shall hear them immediately upon receiving the indictment.

(6) The Court may revoke the decision referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, either ex officio or upon the motion of the accused or his defense attorney.

(7) Upon the motion of the Prosecutor, the Court shall revoke the decision referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

(8) The Court shall at all stages in the proceedings be mindful of the need to release, as soon as possible, the information to which the decision referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article pertains. Sufficient details shall be released for the defense to prepare for examination of a witness. The information must be released at the latest when the witness testifies at the main trial.


Article 13
Additional measures to provide for the non-disclosure of the identity of the witness

(1) In exceptional circumstances, where there is a justified fear that if some or all of the personal details of the witness are released it would seriously endanger the personal security of a witness or his family, and the danger would persist after the testimony is given, the Court may, either ex officio or upon the motion of the parties or the defense attorney, decide that the personal details of the witness shall remain confidential for such period as may be determined to be necessary, but in any event not exceeding thirty years, following upon the day the decision became final.

(2) The Court may, after hearing the parties and the defense attorney, decide that the identity of the witness is not disclosed by allowing the witness to testify behind a screen or utilizing electronic distortion of the voice of the witness or the image of the witness, or both the image and the voice, by using technical means for transferring image and sound.

(3) The Court may, at any time, revoke the decision from paragraph 1 of this Article, either ex officio or upon the motion of the parties or the defense attorney.

Rome Statute

Article 93 Other forms of cooperation

1. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and under procedures of national law, comply with requests by the Court to provide the following assistance in relation to investigations or prosecutions:

(j) The protection of victims and witnesses and the preservation of evidence;